{"id":"F2025L01245","name":"Statement of Expectations for Airservices Australia from 1 November 2025 to 30 June 2027","slug":"statement-of-expectations-for-airservices-australia-from-1-november-2025-to-30-june-2027","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":107292,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2025L01245-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Statement of Expectations for Airservices Australia from 1 November 2025 to 30 June 2027","content":"![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\nAir Services Act 1995\n\nStatement of Expectations for Airservices Australia from 1 November 2025 to 30 June 2027\n\n---\n\nI, Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, make the following instrument.\n\nDated: 13 Oct 2025\n\nCatherine King\n\nMinister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government\n\n---\n\nI, Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, make the following instrument.\n\n    Overview\n\nThis instrument is the Statement of Expectations for Airservices Australia for the period 1 November 2025 to 30 June 2027.\n\nThis Statement of Expectations (SoE) applies from 1 November 2025 until 30 June 2027, and replaces the SoE issued on 30 June 2023.\n\nThis SoE serves as a notice to Airservices Australia (Airservices) under section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995 (the Act) and sets out my expectations for Airservices’ appropriate strategic direction and the manner in which Airservices should perform its functions.\n\n    Governance\n\n    I expect the Board and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airservices to ensure Airservices has the necessary resources and capabilities in place:\n\n    to effectively manage Airservices’ strategic direction, risks, corporate planning in accordance with section 21 of the Act; and\n    to provide Air Traffic Services and Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services to the service level articulated in this SoE.\n\n    I expect the CEO to be responsible for managing the operations of Airservices, its organisational capacity and the exercise of its functions in accordance with section 35 of the Act.\n    I expect the Board of Airservices to notify me and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (the Department) of any significant decisions or issues as soon as practicable.\n    I expect Airservices to keep me and the Department informed of Airservices’ activities, and provide quarterly progress reports against the Corporate Plan, this SoE and reasonable additional reporting requested by me or the Department, including financial and performance metrics.\n    I expect Airservices to monitor its progress towards strengthening its organisational capability and culture, engage in continuous improvement, and report on progress on these issues and relevant initiatives in its quarterly progress reports to me.\n    I expect the Board of Airservices to invite a member of the Department’s Senior Executive or a nominated Department official, to an annual strategic meeting to discuss Airservices’ performance.\n\n    Strategic direction and Manner of performance\n\nI expect Airservices to:\n\n    operate as a world-best-practice provider of Air Traffic Services and Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services delivered in a safe, efficient and effective manner;\n    perform its functions and manage its finances in an efficient, economic and ethical manner, in accordance with the Act, the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, best practice principles and guidelines, other applicable legislation and relevant accounting standards, and appropriately managing, documenting and disclosing any conflicts of interest held by Directors;\n    comply with this SoE and all Ministerial Directions issued under the Act, and for Airservices to demonstrate it is on track to return to financial stability and pay a dividend to Government as agreed by Government;\n    arrange and pay for independent biennial reviews to assess Airservices’ capital structure; and\n    function in conformity with Australia’s international obligations, including the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and obligations under the Chicago Convention.\n\n    Service Level\n\nI expect Airservices to:\n\n    resolve safety findings issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including self-reported deficiencies, and satisfy all directions and conditions placed on authorisations, in accordance with the Civil Aviation Safety Regulation 1998 and within a time period acceptable to CASA;\n    provide Air Traffic Services commensurate with the airspace classification as determined by CASA, during the baseline hours of service determined by CASA unless there is an unforeseeable contingency;\n    ensure it has in place sufficient, capacity and capability to:\n\n    provide Air Traffic Services minimising the use of demand management practices due to staff availability or competency, unless specified by regulations or legislation; and\n    support implementation of safe and efficient noise minimisation measures.\n\n    provide Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services to the category listed on the CASA-issued ARFFS Provider Certificate; in accordance with the provisions of Part 139H (Aerodrome rescue and firefighting services) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and other relevant legislation, unless there is an unforeseeable contingency;\n    ensure it has in place sufficient, competent staff resources to provide rescue and firefighting services without a reduction of category due to staff availability or competency, unless this reduction is required in the delivery of services specified by applicable legislation; and\n    implement long-term strategies to maintain continuity of service, ensuring Air Traffic Services and Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services are delivered in accordance with the expectations outlined at 4 (b), (c), (d) and (e), and communicate these strategies to stakeholders in a frank and timely manner.\n    Should Airservices be unable to meet the Expectations under sections 4a), 4b), 4c), 4d), 4e) and 4f), Airservices should communicate these clearly and transparently to CASA, including its plans for remediation, and include a report on these issues in its quarterly progress reports to the Minister.\n\n    Key Initiatives\n\nI expect Airservices to:\n\n    work with the Department of Defence (Defence) to progress the implementation of the OneSKY Australia Program and the Civil Military Air Traffic Management System, including by:\n\n    advising the Department on the progress of the project, including early identification of risks to delivery, reporting on achievement of program milestones and otherwise supporting reporting to Government; and\n    providing information as requested by me or the Department.\n\n    continue to work closely with the Department and CASA on implementing and supporting the development of the Government’s approach to address Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services issues, consistent with relevant regulations and policies articulated by the Government;\n    work with the Department and CASA to:\n\n    develop and implement services to support emerging aviation technologies (including Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility) consistent with relevant regulations and policies articulated by the Government;\n    provide technical advice on emerging aviation technologies to support policy and regulatory development by the Government;\n    promote the integration of the above into Australian airspace; and\n    support the development and implementation of policy on a potential Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) mandate, as articulated in the 2024 Aviation White Paper.\n\n    operationalise and iteratively develop a Flight Information Management System (FIMS) consistent with the policy objectives articulated by the Government, including those concerning Uncrewed Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM).\n    work with the Department and CASA on Airspace Management Modernisation, consistent with the Australian Airspace Policy Statement, including by:\n\n    regularly reviewing instrument flight procedures to ensure suitability and relevance;\n    enhancing the safety and efficiency of Australian controlled airspace, including at major regional airports;\n    applying sufficient resources to support the opening of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport in 2026 and operations thereafter, including but not limited to: air traffic control; rescue and firefighting services; navigational aids; and airspace planning, design, implementation and post-implementation review; and\n    facilitating trials of UTM in volumes of airspace delivering FIMS services in defined airspace volumes.\n\n    commence development, including the completion of strategic planning documentation and supporting costings, to implement enhanced drone detection at civil controlled airports, proportionate to the complexity of each airport.\n    advance the Government’s environmental objectives by:\n\n    minimising the impact of aircraft operations on communities where practicable;\n    ensuring timely completion and implementation of safe and efficient noise minimisation measures and noise sharing programs;\n    applying sufficient resources to the Airservices Noise Complaints and Information Service, so that noise-affected communities can access needed information;\n    applying sufficient resources to the Aircraft Noise Ombuds function and supporting the transition to an independent structure; and\n    continuing the commitment to the Sydney Airport Long Term Operating Plan as required by the Ministerial Direction dated 30 July 1997 (Federal Register of Legislation reference: F2009B00158).\n\n    work with the Department, other Government agencies and industry to identify, manage and, where appropriate, remediate per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination arising from Airservices’ operations on Airservices-impacted sites, in line with the Government expectations on this issue, including by:\n\n    advising the Department on risks of liability and damages arising from PFAS contamination at impacted sites, for both the Government and for Airservices, in:\n\n        Airservices’ quarterly progress reports to the Minister;\n        reports to the Minister on significant matters considered at Airservices’ Board meetings; and\n        as requested by the Department.\n    providing the Department with regular updates on:\n\n        investigations by Airservices of PFAS contamination;\n        Airservices’ current management of PFAS; and\n\n        future management options and remediation costs, outcomes and methodologies.\n    working with the Department collaboratively on PFAS policy and implementation activities.\n\n    work with the Department, and other Government agencies as appropriate, in providing assistance and advice in relation to the Government’s Asia Pacific aviation capacity and capability building initiatives.\n\n    Stakeholder Engagement\n\nI expect Airservices to:\n\n    undertake effective and productive engagement with the community, industry, and international air navigation agencies and forums, based on mutual understanding and respect;\n    communicate clearly and regularly with the Department, CASA, industry and the community on the development and implementation of significant changes to air navigation and Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services;\n    keep stakeholders informed about Air Traffic Services disruptions and actions being taken to address the causes of disruption, including through transparent and regular reporting and frank and timely communication;\n    proactively provide information, assistance and advice to Government agencies for policy formulation, implementation activities and regulation purposes;\n    contribute to the coordinated approach to airport planning and management of aircraft noise, including appropriate participation in planning coordination forums, community aviation consultation groups, and the National Airports Safeguarding Advisory Group;\n    work closely with the Department and other Government agencies, including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, CASA and Defence to deliver integrated and comprehensive advice to the Government, the aviation industry and the community;\n    undertake and publish biennial reviews into the implementation of Airservices Community Engagement Standard, supporting implementation of the 2024 Aviation White Paper.\n\n    Schedules\n\nEach instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nStatement of Expectations for Airservices Australia for the Period 15 July 2019 to 30 June 2021 (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2019L00978)\n\n1 The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument.\n\nStatement of Expectations for Airservices Australia for the Period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2023 (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2021L00930)\n\n2 The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument.\n\nStatement of Expectations for Airservices Australia from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2025 (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2023L00987)\n\n3 The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument maintains the established scope of Statements of Expectations under the Air Services Act 1995. While it adds contemporary priorities (drone detection, PFAS management, Western Sydney Airport preparation, ADS-B mandate), these represent evolution within the existing statutory framework rather than expansion beyond original intent. The structure and categories mirror previous SoEs, and the repeal provisions show a standard temporal succession pattern."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping obligation categories (Governance, Strategic direction, Service Level, Key Initiatives, Stakeholder Engagement) creating layered compliance requirements","Cross-references to multiple external legislative frameworks: Air Services Act 1995, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, Chicago Convention, and various Ministerial Directions","Conditional and qualified language throughout (e.g., 'unless there is an unforeseeable contingency', 'unless specified by regulations or legislation', 'proportionate to the complexity of each airport')","Specific technical and program references requiring external knowledge (OneSKY Australia Program, ADS-B mandate, FIMS, UTM, PFAS remediation)","Dual reporting lines and coordination requirements across multiple entities: Department of Infrastructure, CASA, Department of Defence, Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and various community forums","Temporal complexity with specific date ranges (1 November 2025 to 30 June 2027) and repeals of three previous instruments with overlapping periods","Embedded performance metrics and review cycles (quarterly reports, biennial reviews, annual strategic meetings)"],"plain_english_summary":"This document is a **Statement of Expectations** issued by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government to **Airservices Australia** — the government-owned company that manages Australia's air traffic control and airport firefighting services.\n\n### What it does\nThis instrument tells Airservices Australia what the Government expects it to achieve and how it should operate between **1 November 2025 and 30 June 2027**. It replaces earlier statements covering 2019–2025.\n\n### Key expectations include:\n\n**Governance**\n- The Board and CEO must ensure the organisation has enough resources, skills and proper risk management\n- The CEO runs day-to-day operations; the Board must alert the Minister to significant issues quickly\n- Airservices must submit **quarterly progress reports** on its performance, finances and corporate plan\n- The Board must invite a senior Department official to an annual strategic meeting\n\n**Strategic direction**\n- Operate as a world-class provider of **Air Traffic Services** (air traffic control) and **Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services** (airport firefighting)\n- Manage money efficiently, ethically and in line with public sector rules\n- Return to financial stability and pay dividends to Government as agreed\n- Get independent reviews every two years on its capital structure\n- Follow Australia's international aviation obligations (ICAO and the Chicago Convention)\n\n**Service levels**\n- Fix any safety problems identified by the aviation safety regulator (CASA) promptly\n- Provide air traffic control services during standard hours without using \"demand management\" (restrictions due to staff shortages) unless legally required\n- Provide firefighting services at the certified level without reducing service due to staff shortages\n- Plan for long-term continuity of both services and be frank with stakeholders about any problems\n\n**Major projects and priorities**\n- Work with Defence on the **OneSKY Australia Program** (a new civil-military air traffic management system)\n- Support new aviation technologies like drones and advanced air mobility\n- Develop a **Flight Information Management System (FIMS)** for managing drone traffic\n- Prepare for the opening of **Western Sydney International Airport** in 2026\n- Develop drone detection capabilities at civil airports\n- Meet environmental goals by minimising aircraft noise impacts and properly resourcing noise complaint services\n- Manage **PFAS contamination** (toxic chemicals from firefighting foam) at affected sites, including reporting risks and remediation plans to Government\n- Support Australia's aviation capacity building in the Asia-Pacific region\n\n**Stakeholder engagement**\n- Engage effectively with communities, industry and international bodies\n- Communicate clearly about service disruptions and their causes\n- Participate in airport planning forums and noise consultation groups\n- Publish biennial reviews of its community engagement standards\n\n### Who it affects\n- **Airservices Australia** directly — it must comply with these expectations\n- **Air travellers** — through service quality and safety standards\n- **Airlines and airports** — through air traffic and firefighting service levels\n- **Communities near airports** — through noise management and complaint handling\n- **Defence and other government agencies** — through coordination requirements\n\n### Why it matters\nThis document shapes how Australia's skies are managed for nearly two years. It sets binding expectations on critical safety services, major infrastructure projects (including the new Western Sydney airport), environmental protections, and how Airservices interacts with the community. It also requires transparency about problems — if Airservices can't meet expectations, it must report this clearly to the regulator and Minister."},"summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals and replaces all previous Statements of Expectations for Airservices Australia, including those dated 30 June 2023, 1 July 2021 and 15 July 2019."},"complexity_factors":["Covers multiple operational domains including air traffic services, rescue firefighting, financial governance and international obligations.","Contains technical aviation and regulatory references (e.g. airspace classification, ARFFS categories, CASA authorisations, OneSKY, FIMS, PFAS).","Integrates numerous project-specific mandates and cross-agency coordination requirements."],"plain_english_summary":"The ministerial statement sets the Australian Government’s expectations for Airservices Australia from 1 Nov 2025 to 30 Jun 2027, replacing prior statements. It directs the Board and CEO to maintain world‑class safety and service continuity, strong governance and stakeholder communication, and transparent reporting. Key priorities include civil‑military OneSKY integration, enabling drones and advanced air mobility, preparing Western Sydney International Airport, managing PFAS and aircraft noise, and supporting international obligations—affecting staff, industry, communities and other agencies."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This SoE expressly repeals prior SoEs and replaces them for 1 Nov 2025–30 Jun 2027. It updates and consolidates ministerial expectations, adding explicit direction on modernisation programs (OneSKY, FIMS, ADS‑B/UTM), Western Sydney airport readiness, PFAS management, noise and community engagement, and independent capital reviews — thereby broadening and specifying Airservices’ operational and financial responsibilities for the period."},"complexity_factors":["Statutory cross‑references and ministerial powers: notice given under s17 of the Air Services Act; corporate planning obligations referenced to s21; CEO operational responsibility referenced to s35; compliance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.","Detailed operational standards with external regulators: obligations to resolve CASA safety findings, meet CASA baseline hours and ARFFS Provider Certificate requirements, and comply with Part 139H of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (service‑level dependencies on CASA acceptance).","Financial and governance demands: expectation to return to financial stability, pay an agreed dividend, and arrange/pay for independent biennial capital structure reviews (direct cost and fiscal incentive effects on Airservices).","Major program delivery and interagency coordination: explicit expectations to support OneSKY, Civil Military ATM, FIMS, ADS‑B mandate work, UTM/advanced air mobility, and the Western Sydney International Airport opening — each requires cross‑agency reporting and risk management with Defence and the Department.","Environmental and legacy liability obligations: ongoing requirements to investigate, report and, where appropriate, remediate PFAS contamination on Airservices‑impacted sites with regular updates to the Department (creates potential contingent liability and reporting burden).","Vague or subjective performance thresholds: repeated use of terms like \"sufficient resources/capability\", \"acceptable to CASA\" and \"unforeseeable contingency\" introduces administrative discretion and uncertainty for compliance and enforcement.","Reporting and transparency burden: quarterly progress reports against the Corporate Plan and SoE, additional reporting as requested, biennial community engagement reviews and published outputs increase monitoring and administrative work.","Operational resilience requirements: expectations to minimise demand management due to staff availability/competency and to maintain ARFFS category without reduction (creates staffing, training and contingency planning obligations).","Program development costs and procurement: directions to commence strategic planning and costings for enhanced drone detection and to operationalise FIMS imply upfront capital planning and ongoing procurement complexity.","Repeal and replacement mechanics: Schedule 1 repeals three prior SoEs, meaning this instrument supersedes earlier directives and consolidates current ministerial expectations for the specified period."],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, this instrument is a Ministerial Statement under s17 of the Air Services Act applying 1 Nov 2025–30 Jun 2027 and repealing prior Statements of Expectations. It sets reporting, governance and service‑level expectations for Airservices Australia, directing the Board and CEO to provide air traffic and rescue/firefighting services, support programs (OneSKY, FIMS, ADS‑B, Western Sydney), manage PFAS and noise, and commission independent capital reviews. It affects Airservices’ operations and finances (including review costs and dividend expectations) and requires coordination with the Department, CASA and Defence."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/statement-of-expectations-for-airservices-australia-from-1-november-2025-to-30-june-2027","history":"/api/acts/statement-of-expectations-for-airservices-australia-from-1-november-2025-to-30-june-2027/history","analysis":"/api/acts/statement-of-expectations-for-airservices-australia-from-1-november-2025-to-30-june-2027/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/statement-of-expectations-for-airservices-australia-from-1-november-2025-to-30-june-2027/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/statement-of-expectations-for-airservices-australia-from-1-november-2025-to-30-june-2027/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/statement-of-expectations-for-airservices-australia-from-1-november-2025-to-30-june-2027/documents"}}